My name is Jacob Janke. Before door-to-door, I was honestly just trying to survive. I was undisciplined, unintentional, and kind of going with the flow without a clear plan. I was stuck in a survival mindset—selfish, scared, and just trying to get by.

Before I ever did door-to-door, I was working hourly jobs—In-N-Out and delivering pizzas for Domino’s. Domino’s was fun (music, tips, free pizza), and I was “comfortable,” but only because I was trading a lot of hours for that comfort. The problem was I wasn’t growing, and my income was capped no matter how hard I worked. I also came in with a major confidence gap: I was homeschooled in a family of seven, and my people skills and confidence were at an all-time low.

I originally decided to do door-to-door because I was struggling to afford what I thought I was passionate about at the time—I needed a way to fund my education. What really pushed me over the edge was seeing other people do it first. I watched friends take the risk, travel, and start winning—and it flipped a switch in me: “If they can do it, why can’t I?”

To be completely honest, if I hadn’t had those real examples around me, I don’t think I would’ve done it. Without seeing friends succeed, I would’ve assumed it was fake or a scam—because on paper it sounds impossible: a high-paying opportunity where you learn the skill set in real time.

Once I got into sales, the biggest difference wasn’t just money—it was the mechanism: door-to-door forces you to adapt. It broke me out of my shell and taught me how to polish my communication, empathy, and ability to build real connections—not just in sales, but in my friendships and life outside of work. It also fixed what I thought were my “excuses” for being bad at sales. I had every excuse in the book: shaky social confidence, not the best circle, and a lot of self-focus. Sales forced growth anyway. Over time, I changed my circle, my values, and how I saw myself.

Two of the biggest skills I gained were discipline and self-belief. They go hand in hand: I built self-belief by showing myself I could be disciplined—by showing up, taking consistent action, and learning how to replicate success. Self-belief became a skill because it isn’t something you’re simply taught—it’s earned through repeated action.

In terms of results, my growth over three years tells the story.

Year 1: about $55,000 in revenue

Year 2: about $115,000 in revenue

Year 3: $751,000 in pest control revenue (a Golden Door-level summer)

And the bigger point is this: I’m not a rare case. Even in my own office, I watched other people— including a first-year rep—produce at a similar level. That’s why I tell people to stop buying into invisible “barriers” like “I’m not the type,” “I don’t have the skill set,” or “I don’t know anyone.” Most of that is just fear dressed up as logic.

The internal win is bigger than the external one. Before sales, I was unintentional and in survival mode. Now I’m disciplined, intentional, and impact-oriented. I care less about how my actions only affect me, and more about how they affect the people around me. Now I want to replicate the same success that happened in my life for others—because door-to-door didn’t just change my summer, it changed the narrative of who I am.

If you’re considering this and you’re on the fence, my advice is simple: trust your gut and do your research. Ask for proof. Ask for numbers. Ask for data. Find a team that aligns with your values and has results to back it up—judge companies by actions, not words. And if you’re young, not married, and not providing for a family yet, this is the best time to take a calculated risk. Worst case, you learn a skill set that will pay you for the rest of your life. Best case, it changes your life—and everyone around you.